Wedding Planning Burnout: Relieving Yourself from the Stress Build-up
2020-08-30

For those of you who planned to have your wedding this year, chances are, the coronavirus pandemic has forced you to postpone it. This prolongs the wedding planning phase, which is often mentally and emotionally draining for many couples, increasing the risk of a wedding planning burnout. Yes, this is a real condition, and a rather common one at that, too.

A sensation brought on by an accumulation of expectations, anticipation, and pressure, you may be suffering from wedding planning burnout if you just can’t seem to get a move on your wedding planning checklist, even though you know you should, secretly panic when others casually ask about the wedding planning progress, or low-key wish for it all to be over and done with soon. 

To help you deal with the stress and burnout, here are some self-care methods that may help to lift your spirits, as well as preventive measures to avoid burning out:

Self-care tips to treat a wedding planning burnout

Do what makes you happy

To lift yourself out of an emotional rut, mental health counsellors recommend shifting your attention to something else that makes you feel productive or passionate about. This is because burnout often comes from a continuous stream of feeling unproductive and a belief that you’ll never get anywhere. To facilitate this, you may start with something small and manageable first to regain that feeling of accomplishment before moving onto larger, harder tasks!

Laugh your heart out

As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine. It has been proven by studies and experts that laughing triggers the release of endorphins in your body, which are essentially “feel-good” chemicals. Laughing also releases dopamine and oxytocin, and together, they promote an overall sense of well-being, counteract stress, and put you and others at ease. 

Pamper yourself 

Burnout can happen because we neglect our needs. Experts recommend checking in with yourself daily and take care of both your mental and physical needs. Sleep enough, drink enough, move enough, and eat healthily. Take the time to catch up with your friends, your favourite TV shows, or dabble in relaxation exercises like meditation! Taking care of yourself will allow you to feel physically and emotionally better, which can help in reducing the stress felt from the burnout.

Find a support system

It’s only natural to feel frustrated or devastated when things don’t go your way after all the time and effort you’ve poured into your wedding plans. Don’t bottle your emotions in, allow yourself to feel the hurt and shock, and verbalise how you feel about the situation. 

According to psychotherapists, acknowledging your feelings will help you make better sense of your experience, which in turn allows you to find your sense of calm more easily. Turn to your friends and family for emotional support. Alternatively, you may also consider penning down your feelings. 

Talk to a professional

Lifting your spirits when you’re experiencing burnout is definitely easier said than done. Talking to a professional is a great way to find some support in your journey to recovery, and it also ensures the fastest and most effective route — after all, they are trained and well-versed in mental health, whereas our family and friends may not be, even though they have our best intentions at heart. 

Tips to prevent burnout

Methods to prevent wedding planning burnout are similar to treatment measures. The main idea is to mitigate stress before they get a chance to build up and overwhelm you, so besides the above tips, here are some other ways you can avoid burnout:

Switch up your daily routine

Preventing stress can be as simple as making subtle changes to your daily routine. Incorporate behavioural techniques that have been proven to relieve stress and anxiety into your day, which can include petting your pet, practising breathing exercises, staying hydrated, and exercising regularly. 

Take frequent breaks

If your wedding is postponed, you can take a break from the planning process and relax your mind and body. Of course, you'll need to get in touch with your bridal shop and respective vendors to discuss their COVID-19 plans and your decision (whether to postpone or cancel your wedding altogether), but once you're done with that, you can take this chance to have a breather!

Make wedding planning fun

Alternatively, if your wedding is postponed, you can also slow down and treat the wedding planning as a fun activity to do without feeling rushed. Get creative with your wedding vows, plan a wedding dance, or curate a kick-ass wedding playlist consisting of all your favourite songs! This will make planning feel less like a chore and personalise your wedding further to reflect your uniqueness.